How a Card Game Helped One Family Say Goodbye with Love

The Moment I Realized Cards for Connection Was Bigger Than Me

Estimated read time: 4 minutes

The room was quiet. A soft stillness, like the world had paused.

A woman gathered her family together. Her father was in hospice—his final hours winding down.

There had been tension. Some family members were stepping out of the room when others entered.

The heaviness of grief was compounded by unspoken distance and old wounds.

That's when she pulled out a deck of Cards for Connection.

She invited everyone to play together. And somehow, they began to listen even in the middle of sorrow. Not just to the prompts—but to each other. With compassion. With presence.

She told me later, "It was a truly magical moment for our family. When we came together to play, my dad passed in peace."

Then they pulled one last card: "Brainstorm my superpowers."

They took turns answering it for him.

One by one, they spoke his legacy out loud

naming the qualities he had instilled in them, the ways he had shown up, the love he had offered. It was playful. It was emotional. It was holy.

I learned about this moment when she approached me at an event. She handed me a thank you card and told me what had happened.

I had goosebumps. Tears. Awe.

Awe, at the magic that could come from something as simple as a card deck.

Awe, at her bravery—bringing her family together in such a raw, tender moment.

And awe at what I had created.

This moment called me back into my power.

It reminded me that this little deck wasn't just a tool for connection. It was a bridge. A permission slip. A sacred technology that could turn silence into truth and grief into presence.

I knew I had to keep going.

That moment lit a fire in me. I launched a crowdfunding campaign to print the new versions of Cards for Connection—four decks, hundreds of prompts, and a growing community around the mission of meaningful human connection. We created a movement from that spark.

Not every card pull happens in a hospice room. But every question holds the potential to open hearts, bring people closer, and leave us feeling more whole.

That's why I created Cards for Connection—a card deck designed to help you deepen relationships with the people you love.

Whether navigating tender moments with family, wanting more meaningful conversations with friends, or looking to bring warmth and laughter into a gathering, this deck is your invitation to connect more authentically.

Because connection isn't just a nice idea—it's what we all long for.

✨ Get your Cards for Connection deck here ✨

xoxo, Erin, the Connectress